INDIANAPOLIS – The federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has awarded a $1 million grant to the Indiana Supreme Court's Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC) to help courts and clerks install systems to allow quick transfer of conviction information to the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

“This grant will allow counties to send data electronically instead of by fax and mail, creating a system that is faster and more efficient,” said Chief Justice Randall Shepard. “This partnership between the courts and BMV will make Indiana 's roadways safer by providing immediate notification of serious convictions of commercial drivers.”

New federal rules require serious traffic convictions of persons holding Commercial Drivers Licenses to be sent to the BMV within 10 days of the conviction. If Indiana does not comply, the state could lose more than $30 million in federal highway funds.

Currently, such conviction data is sent manually for the most part, placing Indiana in jeopardy of failing to meet the new reporting requirements. Less than twenty-five percent of conviction information is sent electronically. The Indiana Supreme Court, through its Judicial Technology and Automation Committee, and the BMV are partnering to offer courts and clerks technology options for sending the data electronically, which would assure timely transmission and compliance with the law.

These new tools are part of the Supreme Court's initiative to develop and deploy a 21 st Century Case Management System (CMS) that will connect courts in all 92 Indiana counties with each other and appropriate state agencies, such as the BMV, State Police and Family and Social Services Administration. Until the CMS development and deployment is complete, JTAC will work with individual courts and clerks to develop solutions for meeting the federal notification rules.

Work on this project has already begun, and JTAC has contacted circuit court clerks as well as city and town court clerks throughout Indiana to determine how each one presently transmits information to the BMV. Preliminary plans call for two alternate approaches so local courts can choose the best option depending on the technology and resources available.

“Many clerks have shared valuable information with JTAC staff during this review process which has aided system developers, and we appreciate their cooperation,” said Chief Justice Shepard. “Ultimately, this challenging project will go a long way to improve Indiana highway safety and maintain Indiana federal highway funds.”